Editing Head of state (section)

===By election===
[[File:Electoral_systems_for_heads_of_state_map_direct.svg|thumb|250x250px|Countries where the [[electoral system]] directly elects their head of state, by type{{legend|#a02c5a|[[Two-round system]] (majority voting)}} {{legend|#ff0000|[[First-past-the-post]] (plurality voting)}}{{legend|#ff80e5|[[Instant-runoff voting]] (ranked-choice majority voting)}}]]
Election usually is the constitutional way to choose the head of state of a republic, and some monarchies, either directly through popular election, indirectly by members of the legislature or of a special college of [[Indirect election|electors]] (such as the [[Electoral College (United States)|Electoral College]] in the [[United States]]), or as an exclusive prerogative. Exclusive prerogative allows the heads of states of constituent monarchies of a federation to choose the head of state for the federation among themselves, as in the [[United Arab Emirates]] and [[Malaysia]]. The Pope, head of state of Vatican City, is chosen by previously appointed [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinals]] under 80 years of age from among themselves in a [[papal conclave]].